The Empty Sea

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The "Blue Economy" encompasses all economic activities related to the sea, focusing on sustainability. It includes traditional sectors like fisheries, as well as undersea mining, tourism, and the rapidly growing field of aquaculture. This surge of interest in exploiting marine resources has led to both excitement and overly optimistic projections about the sea's potential to address global needs for food, energy, and minerals. The book explores these trends by tracing our ancestors' gradual understanding of the sea and its resources, discussing the "fisherman's curse" that explains why fishermen often struggle economically, and examining humanity's tendency to deplete essential resources. Despite the sea being less overexploited than land, our demands on its ecosystem services are already exceeding sustainable limits. Innovative concepts, such as "fishing down" for resources like plankton, risk destabilizing marine ecosystems. The narrative delves into fascinating historical anecdotes, including how Neanderthals navigated the sea, the remarkable feats of early whalers, and the origins of fishing equations. It also addresses contemporary issues like jellyfish stings and introduces a board game that simulates resource overexploitation, providing readers with a deeper understanding of the evolving relationship between humanity and the ocean.